Gwynedd

Gwynedd's population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in knowledge of the Welsh language, family life and religion.

The population passed 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Gwynedd increased by 4.3%, from almost 117,000 to 122,000.

The addition of just over 5,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Gwynedd was home to, on average, 0.34 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Wales' third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was similar to the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Gwynedd

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Gwynedd increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than Lancaster (one of the most statistically similar areas to Gwynedd based on ONS area classifications) (40 years of age) and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 13% of people in Gwynedd are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Conwy and Gwynedd by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd fell from 69% to 65% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

This was the third-largest decline in the proportion of Welsh speakers of any local authority area in the country. Of the few areas where knowledge of the Welsh language increased, Monmouthshire saw the largest change (from 9.0% to 9.9%).

There are 495 fewer people living in Gwynedd who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 5,484.

In Conwy (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Gwynedd), 27% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 29% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was higher than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More homes without children

Gwynedd saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

During this period, Gwynedd overtook Powys and Denbighshire to become the Wales local authority area with the third-highest percentage of households without children.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (66%) households in Gwynedd had no children, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 28% to 25%.

Isle of Anglesey saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of households without children (from 61% to 64%).

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More students

Gwynedd saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of students.

During this period, Gwynedd overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.2%) people aged 16 to 74 in Gwynedd said they were in education, compared with 2.5% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 42% to 45%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of students occurred in Ceredigion (from 3.9% to 6.2%).

The percentage of students in Gwynedd increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Gwynedd, Conwy and Wales that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Gwynedd

The percentage of Gwynedd residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.8% to 4.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 5.8%, while the percentage of Gwynedd residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's second lowest proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Gwynedd residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.7% to 2.9% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care fell at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's fourth lowest proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Gwynedd remained close to 2.9%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Conwy and Gwynedd by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Gwynedd

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 32% said they had no religion. An increase from 18% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Gwynedd.

Across Wales, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 20% to 35%

Around 65% of those who disclosed their religion in Gwynedd said they were Christian, down from 81% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, up from 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation rose from 8.6% to 9.4% between the last two censuses.

In Gwynedd, 9.4% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In Wales the percentage was 8.4% and across England the percentage was 8.4%.

The population without a religion in Gwynedd increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Conwy and Gwynedd by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of married people fell in Gwynedd at a faster rate than in statistically similar Lancaster.

In Gwynedd, the proportion of married people decreased from 50% in 2001 to 44% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Lancaster decreased from 47% to 44%.

Across Wales, the share of married people decreased from 52% to 47%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Gwynedd increased from 31% to 36%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Gwynedd residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.5% to 5.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. While the percentage of Gwynedd residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to nearby Conwy (which remained close 7.0%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Gwynedd decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Gwynedd, Conwy and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Gwynedd, but at a slower rate than across Wales.

In Gwynedd, the proportion of private renting increased from 12% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.6% to 14%.

Across Wales, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14%.

The rate of social housing in Gwynedd fell from 18% to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 66% to 65%.

Private renting in Gwynedd increased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gwynedd, Conwy and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Gwynedd, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.7% to 9.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in three (35%) households had only one person, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Gwynedd which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 34% to 29%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to nearby Conwy (which remained close 9.0%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 7.5% to 9.7%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Gwynedd increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gwynedd, Conwy and Wales that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Gwynedd working less than 16 hours increased from 2.1% to 3.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 13% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to nearby Conwy (which remained close 3.2%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 1.7% to 3.0%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Gwynedd increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Gwynedd, Conwy and Wales that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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